Reddit Ads Manager: A Complete Guide for Marketers

With over 500 million monthly active users, Reddit has transformed from a niche online forum into one of the most influential platforms for discussions, communities, and niche audiences. Businesses looking to tap into highly engaged groups are increasingly turning to Reddit Ads Manager, the platform’s dedicated tool for creating, managing, and optimizing ad campaigns.

In this guide, we’ll break down how Reddit Ads Manager works, its features, and how you can use it to drive results.

Table of Contents

What Is Reddit Ads Manager?

Reddit Ads Manager is the central hub for advertisers to create, manage, and analyze paid campaigns on Reddit. Launched to simplify advertising on the platform, it offers an intuitive interface where you can:

Build campaigns from scratch
Set budgets and targeting options
Monitor real-time performance
Optimize ads for better results

It’s designed for both beginners and experienced advertisers, making Reddit ads accessible even for those who’ve never run a campaign before.

Why Use Reddit Ads Manager?

Unlike other social media advertising platforms, Reddit is built around thousands of “subreddits” — niche communities based on interests, hobbies, and topics. This unique setup gives advertisers a huge advantage: hyper-targeting.

Some benefits include:

Niche Audience Targeting – Directly reach communities discussing topics relevant to your product or service.
High Engagement – Reddit users often spend more time on threads, reading and responding to content.
Less Ad Saturation – Compared to Facebook or Instagram, Reddit ads often face less competition in certain niches.
Diverse Ad Formats – From promoted posts to video ads, there are multiple ways to engage.

Key Features of Reddit Ads Manager

Here are some of the main features that make the Ads Manager a powerful tool:

1. Campaign Structure

Ads are organized in three levels:

Campaigns – Set your objective (e.g., brand awareness, conversions).
Ad Groups – Define targeting, placement, and budget.
Ads – Create the actual content, upload creatives, and add copy.

2. Targeting Options

Location – Target users by country, state, or city.
Interests – Reach audiences based on what they engage with.
Community Targeting – Advertise directly in specific subreddits.
Device & Time – Choose devices (desktop/mobile) and set time-based delivery.

3. Budget and Bidding

Reddit uses an auction-based system, where advertisers set a daily or lifetime budget and a bid per 1,000 impressions (CPM). You can adjust bids anytime to improve performance.

4. Ad Formats

Promoted Posts – Appear within subreddit feeds, blending with organic posts.
Video Ads – Autoplay videos in users’ feeds.
Carousel Ads – Multiple images in one ad for more storytelling.
Display Ads – Premium placements for brand takeovers.

5. Performance Analytics

Ads Manager includes built-in reporting tools, allowing you to track metrics like impressions, clicks, CTR, conversions, and cost per result.

Steps to Create a Campaign in Reddit Ads Manager

Sign Up for a Reddit Ads Account
Go to ads.reddit.com and register.
Choose Your Objective
Options include brand awareness, traffic, conversions, and app installs.
Set Your Budget
Decide between daily or total spend.
Define Your Targeting
Select subreddits, interests, or demographic filters.
Create the Ad
Upload creatives, write your headline, and add a CTA.
Review and Launch
Double-check targeting and budget before hitting publish.

Best Practices for Using Reddit Ads Manager

Be Authentic – Reddit users value genuine engagement over salesy messages.
Target the Right Communities – Research subreddits before advertising.
Use Eye-Catching Headlines – Your ad headline is the first thing users see.
Test Multiple Variations – Run A/B tests to identify top-performing creatives.
Engage with Comments – Responding to user questions builds trust.

Final Thoughts

Reddit Ads Manager gives businesses a powerful way to reach niche, highly engaged audiences. By combining targeted community reach with a variety of ad formats, marketers can create campaigns that resonate deeply with potential customers. When used strategically, it can deliver both brand awareness and measurable ROI.